a's

by is m

s polished, chandeliers hanging and blinding every

asps be

"Elara, this place is insane. INSANE. This is the

ound once,

I murmur.

the sarcasm. No

s. This building wasn't constructed

a's

onged in rooms she had no business standing in. Of course the Kòrvacs wou

nyway because i

new one thing: the Kòrvacs wanted a marriage contract with the Vir

en K

to-ceiling windows and executiv

I say. "It

om is even colde

ross from me. Two

oesn't need a

en K

Visionary. Public icon. Priv

of presence that doesn't need to announce itself to

ims me for barely three seconds before shiftin

es me more th

ghten m

s flawless. The years of experience, metrics that speak

now was my oral

ions come

Client retention. Risk miti

I watch the panel exchange glances and

, detached and unintereste

omen says, smiling polite

on dropped 17% in six months. Marketing says pricing and finance says logistics.

're testing my strategic thinking and forcing

of t

they exchange loo

r product value, and your representatives are closing deals before relationships form. Clients

aus

the proc

t's an insane answer but

enue." I look Lucien w

months, your referrals do

ning contracts but yo

Solis." Lucien leans forward,

't have answered if

that?" he asks and I

moothly. "And I'm good a

s flatly, "here you

ngue, hard.

ade the funniest joke in the room. He narrows his

'll

ll d

ething he picked off a shelf

was his per

rk the foll

diately,

directing resources, reassigning budgets, and dis

rmation leaks. Partnerships cru

m excellen

And I deliver results just enough to kee

soften reprimands. I don't pre

me stoic, controlled and u

t while ensuring it

y a group of coworkers whisp

O's furious," on

nformation," another adds

, but then stop

gossip, you work hard enough that the money

y without a wor

g mad, he'd soon ho

catch me. I'm good at

ring once before dying completely in the parking lot. Camilla is out of town, unreachable, and

my voice even. "Just pick Ashe

. "Elara, you'll owe me big time. BIG. I

ou dinner f

immediately. "Say l

call, exha

now so I'm surprised when

k like someone

ing neutral and polite. Lucien Kòrvac stands bes

ct like a mother,

le so tight i

greeting

ow. "It's the

lute. "I am joyous and filled w

g flicker across his face-amusement,

," he says, eyes dropping briefly to m

gaze before l

I lie easily. "Been

ct. Sympathy, discomfort,

that. He just grunts, unim

ng in m

ife?" I ask i

and slowly

do you

some as you are, boss, you don't expe

e visibly recoils, making me wan

he says fla

e walk

him, my jaw ti

s words won't

forehead, wait until his breathi

ght've lied. Hel

omputer n

ally loads onto my scr

actual f